"Parents based in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained interest throughout the news, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up understanding and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
